Editor, Times-Union: I am writing this letter in hopes that it will reach a few people who care about our rural areas as much as I do. In the last month alone, I have read at least two letters posted on your site from concerned citizens regarding our fields and farmland. Along with these farms and fields, there are beautiful old barns - I know you've seen them as you're driving along the country roads in the late evening hours, just as dusk is settling upon the countryside. The remaining sunlight glistening off the freshly-watered fields and peaking through the rickety old wood of the barns. It truly is a breathtaking sight to behold. I can't think of any true Hoosier who would want these barns to disappear - I can only hope and pray they are around to show my children and grandchildren.
Unfortunately, I know most of them won't be around, which is why I've started The Barn Project. As a photographer, I am quite passionate about preserving the memories that make us who we are. These barns and farms are a part of all Hoosiers - young and old alike. I would like to ask anyone who is willing to share their memories of life on the farm, or anyone who owns a barn and would allow me to photograph it, to contact me via e-mail (info@kimberlybeatty.com). I'd love to discuss this project with any one interested and willing to participate - help me preserve our Indiana heritage!
Kim Beatty Syracuse via e-mail
Wants Central Time
Editor, Times-Union: I don't believe that Daylight Saving is mainly for the politicians. I have never lived in a state that didn't have Daylight Saving until three years ago and since then, every time we make an out-of-state call we have to stop and think which time we're on. Daylight Saving will be much easier for interstate business as well as for all of the rest of us. Just wait and see, dog-gone-it! I personally would like to be on central time since we are a lot closer to Chicago than to New York City.
Alice P.Brown Warsaw, via e-mail
Wants Eastern Time
Editor, Times-Union: Hats off to you, Gary Gerard, I could not have said it any better. It disturbs me that Kosciusko is even considering Central to stay in sync with counties to the west. We have as much or more business interest to the east with people working, etc. in the Warsaw area coming from those counties and Warsaw area people going east to those counties to work, etc., and the economy is much stronger east than to the west - go U.S. 30 to Fort Wayne and see the industrial and business growth. Thinking in general is that DST should add light to the evening hours of the day. If Kosciusko goes Central we will be cheated out of the benefits of DST in winter and summer both. With this county being so much a tourist county and all the lakes and recreational trade, Eastern DST will be better for the economy.
Please consider the Whitko Schools. If Kosciusko and Whitley were on two different times, it would be a total inconvenience for the kids and parents. I think this also would affect other school systems in this county. Kosciusko has as much of or more of an interest to stay Eastern than move to Central. I was told the CCAC could burn their lights from 9 to 11 p.m. with Eastern DST, and now they have them on from 8 to 11, they have already been pondering the savings of taxpayers' money. With early evening darkness during the winter months, and it will be getting dark at 4 p.m., shopping centers, car lots, businesses open later at night, and most businesses are open later at night than early mornings, they will have an hour more of lights and energy use with Central. People, think of the savings. That is what it is all about. Homeowners, Central will add an hour to your evening power usage. It's a known fact utility usage peaks during the afternoon and evening hours. Indiana borders 3 states that observe Eastern. We would be inconveniencing those states and our own by going Central, get a map out and look, we would be like a sore thumb sticking into the Eastern zone. We will be observing DST in all of Indiana, the smart and saving way is Eastern DST. Write, call, get involved, go Eastern DST, the cost of going Central will be coming out of all our pockets, rolling onto our utility meters.
Brett L Berlin Pierceton, via e-mail
Bush Unfit
Editor, Times-Union: Recently President Bush's physician, Dr. Kenneth Cooper, declared Bush "The fittest President in American history." Isn't that wonderful for him? And isn't it nice he can get away and take off the entire month of August to vacation at his ranch in Texas, where according to spokesman Scott McClellan, he can "shed the coat and tie", and spend time outdoors doing things like clearing brush and riding his bike. I imagine Presidents Lincoln and Roosevelt would also have been anxious to escape the troubles facing them in time of war. The innumerable late nights FDR and Churchill spent during WWII and the many sleepless nights Lincoln spent at the War Department grieving over casualty lists and plotting with his Generals. These two Presidents clearly took a physical toll agonizing over the wars thrust upon them. This toll evidenced from photographs taken throughout their administrations. And ultimately the wars killed them both.
With George Bush, however, it's business as usual, regardless of his war in Iraq. No late nights for George, he can't even stay up late enough to host State Dinners, that's past his bedtime, and the exercise routine continues, right on schedule. In light of all, this I find it amazing he can't walk down his driveway some afternoon to speak to Gold Star mother Cindy Sheehan, who has camped there all month. I would think this God-fearing President would do all he could to alleviate the misery and sorrow of this poor woman whose son is dead in his war. All she wants is assurance that her son did not die in vain, that this war is a "noble cause". As Lincoln assured the nation in his eloquent Gettysburg Address "that these dead shall not have died in vain." And as he attempted to console Gold Star mother Mrs. Bixby in his famous 1864 letter, "the solemn pride that must be yours, to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the alter of freedom". We all know George Bush can't possibly communicate like Lincoln, however, he should get someone to write him something to say to Cindy Sheehan about her "costly sacrifice", and he should invite her into his house to say it.
I don't, however, think this will happen, I now hear on TV that Bush's motorcade just sped by Mrs. Sheehan on its way to a GOP fundraiser. He makes no personal sacrifice for his war and blatantly refuses to acknowledge those of others. Ultimately, he doesn't understand the worth of every individual or he just doesn't care. Bush may be the most physically fit President in history - yet the glaring reality remains he is not fit to be President.
Margaret Rockhill Fort Myers, Fla., via e-mail
Eminent Domain
Editor, Times-Union: Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court (by a 5-4 vote) ruled that government can take private property from individuals and provide it for private use. This is a deviate use of "eminent domain" and ignores the intent of the founders and our constitution.
A dissenting justice, Sandra Day O'Conner, stated "nothing is to prevent the state from replacing any Motel 6 with a Ritz-Carlton, any home with a shopping mall, or any farm with a factory - the government now has license to transfer property from those with fewer resources to those with more. The founders cannot have intended this perverse result."
Aug. 10, The Indiana Eminent Domain Study Committee held its first hearing on this landmark issue at the Indiana Government Center, Indianapolis. Dave Wolkins, our local state representative, is heading this committee.
Additionally, U.S. Senate Bill (s.1313), The Protection of Homes, Small Businesses, and Private Property Act of 2005, has been introduced by some senators. Let's prod the U.S. House to provide sister legislation.
Further, we should not fragment this issue of government takings. Consideration should include government taking of any private asset by any government entity for private use. To wit: a host of taxes for individual and business subsidies, tax abatements, government grants, etc. All are socialistic and unconstitutional. Sadly, the hierarchy of both major political parties and their paymasters condone and perpetrate this "legal robbery" of individual citizens and their inherent liberties.
It is incumbent on all the people to get involved to stop further encroachment and control of government in the private affairs and constitutional rights of its citizens.
